Also votes to preserve Manhattan\u2019s Lower East Side, while creating a new stock of affordable housing<\/p>\n
City Hall, November 19, 2008 \u2013 At today\u2019s Stated Council meeting, the members of the New York City Council will vote on three pieces of legislation. The bills will:
\n\u2022 Allow motorists to park at a broken meters or muni-meters up to the maximum time permitted in the parking meter zone;
\n\u2022 Require the NYPD to make quarterly reports to the Council detailing the number of arrests made involving illegal firearms;
\n\u2022 Reform the Industrial and Commercial Abatement Program (ICAP) in relation to the suspension of benefits for code violations.<\/p>\n
The Council will also consider the rezoning of Manhattan\u2019s Lower East Side.<\/p>\n
EASING RESTRICTIONS AT BROKEN PARKING METERS
\nThe Council will vote on legislation that seeks to prevent drivers from receiving unfair parking tickets. Int. No. 812, introduced by Council member Simcha Felder, would allow motorists to park at a broken meter or muni-meter up to the maximum time permitted in the parking meter zone.<\/p>\n
Existing traffic rules can be unclear and confusing to drivers. On one hand, motorists may currently park at a missing meter up to the maximum amount of time allowed in the parking meter zone. However, drivers are only allowed to park at a broken meter for one hour \u2013 even if the maximum time permitted in the parking meter zone is longer.<\/p>\n
This discrepancy in the rules has led some drivers to receive unfair tickets while parked at a broken meter, believing they could park for the maximum amount of time allowed. Int. No. 812 would add consistency to the law, allowing parking for the maximum time allotted at both broken and missing meters.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn tough economic times, New Yorkers are being forced to cut costs and save money any way they can,\u201d said Speaker Christine C. Quinn. \u201cThe last thing working families can afford is to be slapped with an unnecessary parking ticket as a result of confusing and archaic rules. This legislation will make our city\u2019s parking regulations more uniform, and save drivers from having crucial funds taken right out of their pockets.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMost people have no idea that they are only allowed at a broken meter for an hour and that results in confusion, unfair parking tickets and anger,\u201d said Council Member Simcha Felder. \u201cAnything we can do to cut down on the number of unfair parking tickets issued by the City is a step in the right direction.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe broken-meter rule is another example of city parking rules that are grounded in faulty premises, effectively issuing thousands of costly parking tickets to conscientious drivers who had honestly thought they were following the rules,\u201d said Transportation Committee Chair John Liu. \u201cCouncil Member Felder\u2019s bill, as part of the Committee\u2019s ongoing efforts to make the City\u2019s traffic regulations more sensible and less unnecessarily punitive, will remedy the nonsensical broken-meter rule. The Committee will continue to pursue changes to parking rules that serve little purpose other than to regard the driving public as a cash cow.\u201d<\/p>\n
LOWER EAST SIDE REZONING
\nThe Council will consider a rezoning of Manhattan\u2019s Lower East Side. The rezoning plan will downzone much of the area north of Houston Street, between 3rd Avenue and Avenue D. It also includes the area south of Houston Street, between Pitt and Christie Streets. The plan includes new affordable housing opportunities while preserving the historic character of the Lower East Side and East Village community. For the first time, much of the area will have new height caps which will limit construction to 80 feet. The southern section rezoning will preserve traditional lower east side commercial and artisan manufacturing opportunities<\/p>\n
\u201cToday, the City Council approved a new zoning district for the Lower East Side and East Village,\u201d said Council Member Rosie Mendez. \u201cThis action ensures the survival of the low scale character of a community which was recently recognized as one of the 11 most endangered neighborhoods in the US. We obtained inclusionary zoning, which creates the potential for new affordable housing. My community conceived of and demanded this plan and I am pleased to have been a part of their efforts to get it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis rezoning is a win-win for the Lower East Side and Chinatown, which are fundamentally one community,\u201d said Council Member Alan J. Gerson. \u201cIn addition to vital protections for the rezoned area, the plan creates and preserves an unprecedented amount of affordable housing in the Chinatown community, provides expanded and meaningful anti-harassment tenant protections and expedites an inclusive process for rezoning Chinatown.\u201d<\/p>\n
FIREARMS POSSESSION REPORTS
\nThe Council will also consider a bill that would require that the NYPD report the number of arrests each year for possession and trafficking of illegal guns to the City Council. The bill would also require that these arrests be broken down by precinct and by type of firearm recovered.<\/p>\n
This legislation will help to combat illegal firearms trafficking and draw more attention to the need to prevent illegal firearms trafficking. Quarterly reporting will also provide a systematic and efficient way to obtain the data and work against illegal firearms trafficking, thus preventing gun violence.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery time the police pick up a criminal carrying an illegal gun, there\u2019s a second criminal who sold them that weapon,\u201d said Council Member David Yassky. \u201cPrecincts need to know that their willingness to go after traffickers will be measured by the Council. What gets measured gets done. It’s as simple as that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is part of a long line of legislation we have passed in the Public Safety Committee to help keep guns out of the hands of criminals,\u201d said Public Safety Committee Chair Peter Vallone. \u201cI commend Council Member Yassky for taking steps to make our city safer and more transparent.\u201d<\/p>\n
REVISING THE INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL ABATEMENT PROGRAM (ICAP)
\nThe Council will vote to amend the Industrial and Commercial Abatement Program (ICAP), a program that provides abatements of real property taxes for many of New York City\u2019s commercial property owners throughout the five boroughs. The amendments will set a protocol for the suspension and restoration of benefits for a business that have serious New York City code violations.<\/p>\n
Businesses that are found in violation of city regulations (i.e. environmental hazards like asbestos, building code violations or faulty fire safety plans) will have their ICAP benefits suspended if they have not corrected the violations within 180 days.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need to do everything we can to help our city make it through the downturn in our economy,\u201d said Speaker Christine C. Quinn, \u201cbut we also need to send the message to businesses that have serious violations that they need to comply with the laws of our city if they are going to receive benefits. These reforms will get us closer to the goal of responsible commercial investment.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring times of both economic expansion and contraction,\u201d said Economic Development Committee Chair Thomas White,\u201d we must make sure that the benefits which are granted to recipients of the City\u2019s largest economic development program, the Industrial Commercial Abatement Program, are going to those who strictly adhere to the NYC Construction Codes as they pertain to immediately hazardous violations, which can be potentially life threatening.\u201d<\/p>\n
The ICAP legislation, which was passed by the Council in late September, pared down the original program, which was born out of the Industrial and Commercial Incentive Program (ICIP). It is designed to help encourage commercial investment and expansion, spurring development in New York City\u2019s business throughout the five boroughs.<\/p>\n
These reforms will take effect immediately after enactment and shall be in force retroactively from July 1, 2008.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Also votes to preserve Manhattan\u2019s Lower East Side, while creating a new stock of affordable housing<\/p>\n
City Hall, November 19, 2008 \u2013 At today\u2019s Stated Council meeting, the members of the New York City Council will vote on three pieces of legislation. The bills will:
\n\u2022 Allow motorists to park at a broken meters or muni-meters up to the maximum time permitted in the parking meter zone;<\/p>\n
…<\/p>\n